A graphite oxide (GO) semiconductor photocatalyst with an apparent bandgap of 2.4–4.3 eV is synthesized by a modified Hummers' procedure. The as‐synthesized GO photocatalyst has an interlayer spacing of 0.42 nm because of its moderate oxidation level. Under irradiation with UV or visible light, this GO photocatalyst steadily catalyzes H2 generation from a 20 vol % aqueous methanol solution and pure water. As the GO sheets extensively disperse in water, a cocatalyst is not required for H2 generation over the GO photocatalyst. During photocatalytic reaction, the GO loses some oxygen functional groups, leading to bandgap reduction and increased conductivity. This structural variation does not affect the stable H2 generation over the GO. The encouraging results presented in this study demonstrate the potential of graphitic materials as a medium for water splitting under solar illumination.

2D materials are of particular interest in light‐to‐heat conversion, yet challenges remain in developing a facile method to suppress their light reflection. Herein, inspired by the black scales of Bitis rhinoceros, a generalized approach via sequential thermal actuations to construct biomimetic 2D‐material nanocoatings, including Ti3C2Tx MXene, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is designed. The hierarchical MXene nanocoatings result in broadband light absorption (up to 93.2%), theoretically validated by optical modeling and simulations, and realize improved light‐to‐heat performance (equilibrium temperature of 65.4 °C under one‐sun illumination). With efficient light‐to‐heat conversion, the bioinspired MXene nanocoatings are next incorporated into solar steam‐generation devices and stretchable solar/electric dual‐heaters. The MXene steam‐generation devices require much lower solar‐thermal material loading (0.32 mg cm−2) and still guarantee high steam‐generation performance (1.33 kg m−2 h−1) compared with other state‐of‐the‐art devices. Additionally, the mechanically deformed MXene structures enable the fabrication of stretchable and wearable heaters dual‐powered by sunlight and electricity, which are reversibly stretched and heated above 100 °C. This simple fabrication process with effective utilization of active materials promises its practical application value for multiple solar–thermal technologies.

Deformable energy storage devices are needed to power the next generation of wearable electronics. This review highlights the most recent advances in stretchable energy storage devices with a focus on batteries and supercapacitors.

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In 2013 a survey of Phytophthora diversity was performed in 25 natural and semi-natural forest stands and 25 rivers in temperate montane and subtropical lowland regions of Taiwan. Using baiting assays, ten described species and 17 previously unknown taxa of Phytophthora were isolated from 71.5% of the 144 rhizosphere soil samples from 33 of 40 tree species sampled in 24 forest stands ,and from 19 rivers: P. capensis, P. citrophthora, P. plurivora, P. tropicalis, P.citricola VII, P. sp. x botryosa-like, P. sp. x meadii-like and P. sp. occultans-like from Clade 2; P. palmivora from Clade 4; P. castaneae and P. heveae from Clade 5; P. chlamydospora and P. sp.forestsoil-like from Clade 6; P. cinnamomi (Pc), P. parvispora, P. attenuata nom. prov., P. flexuosa nom. prov., P. formosa nom. prov., P. intricata nom. prov., P. x incrassata nom. prov. and P. x heterohybrida nom. prov. from Clade 7; P. sp. palustris and five new hybrid species from Clade 9.The A1 mating type of Pc was widespread in both montane and lowland forests and rarely associated with disease, whereas the A2 mating type was limited to lowland forests and in some cases causing severe dieback. Most other Phytophthora species were not associated with obvious disease symptoms. It is concluded that (1) Taiwan is within the center of origin of most Phytophthora taxa found, (2) PcA2 is an introduced invasive pathogen, and (3) interspecific hybridisations play a major role in speciation and species radiations in diverse natural ecosystems.

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Porphyrin-based metal-organic framework thin films for electrochemical nitrite detection, Electrochemistry Communications (2015), AbstractUniform zirconium-based porphyrin metal-organic framework thin films are grown on conducting glass substrates by using a solvothermal approach.The obtained MOF-525 thin film is electrochemically addressable in aqueous solution and shows electrocatalytic activity for nitrite oxidation. The mechanism for the electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite at the MOF-525 thin film is investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The redox mechanism of the MOF-525 thin film in the KCl aqueous solution is studied by amperometry. The MOF-525 thin film is deployed as an amperometric nitrite sensor. The linear range, sensitivity, and limit of detection are 20-800 μM, 95 μA/mM-cm 2 , and 2.1 μM, respectively.

Two-dimensional MXene materials have demonstrated attractive electrical and electrochemical properties in energy storage applications. Adding stretchability to MXene remains challenging due to its high mechanical stiffness and weak intersheet interaction, so the assembling techniques for mechanically stable MXene architectures require further development. We report a simple fabrication by harnessing the interfacial instability to generate higher dimensional MXene nanocoatings capable of programmed crumpling/unfolding. A sequential patterning approach enabled the design of sequence-dependent MXene textures across multiple length scales, which were utilized for controllable wetting surfaces and high-areal-capacitance electrodes. We next transferred the crumpled MXene nanocoating onto an elastomer to fabricate an MXene/elastomer electrode with high stretchability. The accordion-like MXene can be reversibly folded/unfolded and still preserve efficient specific capacitances. We further fabricated asymmetric MXene supercapacitors, and the devices demonstrated efficient electrochemical performance and large deformability (180° bendability, 100% stretchability). Our texturing techniques can be applied to large MXene families for designing stretchable architectures in wearable electronics.